Harford Community College APG Federal Credit Union Arena

Belair, Maryland

The APG Federal Credit Union Arena comprises a new multifunctional 2,500-seat arena and renovation the existing athletic facility, the Susquehanna Center. The arena’s lighting, acoustics and infrastructure are designed to accommodate multiple activities such as concerts, lectures, graduation, banquets and trade shows. The APG Federal Credit Union projects a new image for the college. The versatility of the complex allows both students of the College and residents of the surrounding communities to utilize the new facility.

The project needed to blend in with the existing campus design precedent, while also pushing the level of design to a new level.

The new arena angles away from the existing building, creating a translucent slot, housing the main entry. The arena uses a standard sized ground face block for its skin. The skin is designed to create a large scale pattern, which compliments the building’s scale. The roof is lifted off of the masonry skin by a translucent clerestory. The clerestory accomplishes two important goals, allowing light to flood the interior and also allowing light, color and activity to escape.